Writer / Maggie Herrington
Families are always welcome at the Hamilton County 4-H Fair, this year taking place July 17–22, 2014. Myriad 4-H contests, special events, and public activities—not to mention animals, displays and food—are available for families to enjoy during the fair’s five-day run at the Hamilton County 4-H Fairgrounds, 2003 Pleasant Street, Noblesville. The 4-H Fair is a fun, safe, family-friendly environment. There is no charge for admission or parking, and most activities are provided free of charge.
Special events for 2014 include the Hamilton County 4-H Queen Pageant (Friday, July 11, 7 p.m.), Kitchen Invention Showdown (Thursday, July 17, 10 a.m.), Cooke and Belle Concert (Friday, July 18, 7 p.m.), Demolition Derby (Sunday, July 20, 6 p.m.) and a blood drive sponsored by the Hamilton County 4-H Council and the Indiana Blood Center (Friday, July 18, 3-7 p.m.) Blood drive participants will receive special discounts for fair food!
Public activities include the Homemade Ice Cream Making Contest, Youth Talent Contest, Youth Pet Parade, Ice Cream Eating Contest, and the inaugural Color Me Green Fun Run. In addition to viewing more than 4,000 4-H projects, fairgoers can walk a llama, see baby chicks and rabbits, and maybe witness the birth of a baby pygmy goat.
The showcase of classic “fair foods” includes elephant ears, corn-on-the-cob, funnel cakes, walking tacos, milkshakes, pork chops, rib-eyes, lamb burgers, rabbit brats, chicken tenders, lemon shake-ups and much more. Proceeds from all the food vendors support Hamilton County 4-H and other community programs.
Exhibits on display during the 4-H Fair culminate the hard work of Hamilton County’s 4-H members, animal producers, Extension Homemakers and other artisans.
For more information, contact the Purdue Extension Hamilton County Office at 317-776-0854 or visit online at extension.purdue.edu\hamilton.
